Dodgy Ebay electrics again

[rjm2k]

I bought a SATA to USB connector a while back, the power source that came with it always left a lot to be desired (no fuse etc) so when I recently used it again I decided to hack off the molded plug and replace with a proper UK one. Turned out to be easier said than done due to the 0.5mm wire used which is actually far too thin to screw into a normal plug pin terminal! The earth isn't connected at the other end either. Thankfully it's just a normal "kettle"/PC connector on the other end so I should be able to replace the cable itself. I assume that even though it's marked CE, it's actually way off UK/EU regulations?



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[Jackrae]

CE stands for Chinese Export ?

 

[securespark]

You're better off ditching the lead.

These leads have more wrong with them than just the plugs, as you have discovered.

The CSA's are woefully off course and the insulation colours are wrong too.

You can get kosher ones from Ebuyer cheap enough.

http://www.ebuyer.com/search?q=leads

 

[JohnW2]

...I decided to hack off the molded plug and replace with a proper UK one. Turned out to be easier said than done due to the 0.5mm wire used which is actually far too thin to screw into a normal plug pin terminal!

The lack of a fuse (are you certain there isn't an 'irremovable' one in there?) is typical of some of these abominations, but I don't quite understand your above statement - 0.5mm² flex, connected to BS1363 plugs, is surely very standard for modest loads (it's rated to 3A)?

Kind Regards, John

 

[rjm2k]

The lack of a fuse (are you certain there isn't an 'irremovable' one in there?) is typical of some of these abominations, but I don't quite understand your above statement - 0.5mm² flex, connected to BS1363 plugs, is surely very standard for modest loads (it's rated to 3A)?
Kind Regards, John

It may have been able to carry the load but this particular wire was so thin and fiddly that I could barely hold it in place whilst I screwed down the grub screw, Additionally it wouldn't double over to provide more thickness as the wires simply sprung back to shape. I binned the plug/cable so will never know if there was a hard wired fuse in there.

 

[stillp]

The 13A plug doesn't look to comply with BS 1363; there should be at least 9.5mm between the corners of the live pins and the edge of the plug.

 

[JohnW2]

It may have been able to carry the load but this particular wire was so thin and fiddly that I could barely hold it in place whilst I screwed down the grub screw, Additionally it wouldn't double over to provide more thickness as the wires simply sprung back to shape.

It sounds like 'nasty cable' and probably less than 0.5mm². Many of the Chinese abomninations have tiny conductors - probably 0.1mm² or less! Terminating 'proper' 0.5mm² flex in plugs is not usually a problem.

Kind Regards, John

 

[securespark]

As has been said, the CSA is woefully undersized, the material is often not copper but possibly CCS and yes, the pins are too close to the edge of the plug body, presenting yet another shock risk.

 

[winston1]

Had some of those dodgy unfused plugs on some equipment we bought at work. Took them to the safety officer who got on to trading standards and the supplier. They never supplied us dodgy plugs again.

 

[plugwash]

The plug and flex are clearly not compliant with standards and the flex is clearly fraudulantly labeled as 0.5mm.

Given that I would seriously question whether the power supply that the plug and flex ame with are acceptablly safe.

 

[ban-all-sheds]

But never mind, eh?

Couldn't possibly do anything to eBay to make them step up to their responsibilities, could we? No - we have to prioritise their economic interests and convenience over people's safety.

 

[JohnW2]

But never mind, eh? Couldn't possibly do anything to eBay to make them step up to their responsibilities, could we? No - we have to prioritise their economic interests and convenience over people's safety.

I sympathise with your view, but if you got rid of eBay, people would simply Google for 'dirt cheap electrical items' and would find countless other sources. The purveyors of these products would not simply go away if 'easy' ways of selling their items such as eBay were to disappear.

It is never going to be realistic to expect any intermediary such as eBay (or Amazon, or whoever) to 'vet' every one of the millions of items which are sold via their websites; they would simply disappear (after a horrendous and undoubtedly very protracted 'fight') if such a requirement of them were ever enforced. Some other way of effectively policing the import and/or sale of dangerous or otherwise unacceptable products needs to be found.

Kind Regards, John

 

[rjm2k]

The plug and flex are clearly not compliant with standards and the flex is clearly fraudulantly labeled as 0.5mm.

Given that I would seriously question whether the power supply that the plug and flex ame with are acceptablly safe.

That crossed my mind too but thankfully the thing is very rarely used and never left unsupervised . there must be people out there who use them more often and don't realise the dangers

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The purveyors of these products would not simply go away if 'easy' ways of selling their items such as eBay were to disappear.

Someone, somewhere would be bringing them into the country.

You hold them responsible for any safety defects, falsification of approvals etc, and you make the punishment for contravention so severe that nobody will take the risk of bringing in dubious cheap goods.

It is never going to be realistic to expect any intermediary such as eBay (or Amazon, or whoever) to 'vet' every one of the millions of items which are sold via their websites;

I disagree.

Unless, of course, what you want is to prioritise the economic interests of eBay (or Amazon, or whoever) over people's safety.

 

[JohnW2]

The purveyors of these products would not simply go away if 'easy' ways of selling their items such as eBay were to disappear.

Someone, somewhere would be bringing them into the country. ... You hold them responsible for any safety defects, falsification of approvals etc, and you make the punishment for contravention so severe that nobody will take the risk of bringing in dubious cheap goods.

Exactly - far more sensible, realistic and potentially effective than attempting to address the issue at the level of intermediaries like eBay, Amazon or even newspaper/magazine ads! Most of the required legislation, and the basis of the required infrastructure, already exists - 'all' that is needed is proper policing and enforcement.

Kind Regards, John